Why VPN Is Not Hiding Your Real Location (How to Solve It)?
The ability to digitally alter your position is one of the VPN’s features. It accomplishes this by masking your real IP address and connecting to websites on your behalf via a VPN server.
Changing your location allows you to access content that is otherwise limited and search in private. Is it, however, always concealing your location?
You’ve already found that even when using a VPN, websites can still detect your location. So, why isn’t VPN concealing your true position as it should?
Let’s look at why you could always be found and how to avoid it.
Why is VPN not hiding your location?
For a variety of reasons, a VPN might not be able to conceal your position. To begin with, your VPN can have IP leaks that expose your true position. Second, websites monitor you using cookies, browser fingerprinting, and the browser’s geolocation API. If these methods are used, a VPN will not be able to fully conceal your position.
Let’s look at some of the reasons why your VPN isn’t able to hide your position.
Your VPN leaks IP address
- IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks are the three forms of leaks. For a VPN to keep your location hidden at all times, IP leak security is important. Even briefly revealing your IP will disclose your location, which is a major privacy concern.
- IPv4 and IPv6 leaks: your ISP now assigns you two forms of IP addresses: version 4 and version 6. IPv4 addresses are mainly used by VPN providers, which block IPv6 addresses. Your position is revealed to the websites if any of those are leaked.
- A DNS leak occurs when your computer performs a DNS query to convert a domain name to an IP address before connecting to a website. If a VPN is not installed correctly, these queries are often leaked. DNS leaks will expose your true position and show your ISP your visited websites.
- This is a browser-specific leak called a WebRTC leak. It is not under the influence of VPN users, and it must be switched off in the browser settings. Here are some ideas for how to turn it off.
Websites use tracking cookies
Many websites use cookies for monitoring or features. Cookies can store information about your identity, location, and websites you’ve previously visited.
Unfortunately, since cookies are files that are downloaded within a VPN tunnel, a VPN cannot block them. So, even though your IP has been updated, they can still be able to disclose details about your location.
Some websites use third-party cookies to monitor your movements around the internet. Advertisers that can calculate the approximate position usually use these.
Browser fingerprinting is another method of monitoring. It uses the parameters in your browser to identify you and your approximate position.
Your browser geolocation is used
Your browser’s GPS functionality can reveal your location. Some websites will request permission to use your browser’s geolocation API to determine your location. Since all coordinates are sent over the VPN, a VPN cannot protect you from this inside the encrypted tunnel. Since a VPN has no power over browser location permissions, you can set them manually.
Most websites use your IP address to determine your location. However, even though you are linked to a VPN server, your location is exposed if browser geolocation is used.
How to hide your location using a VPN?
When using a VPN, there are still options for completely concealing your location. With a few easy measures, you can deal with IP leaks, monitoring, and geo-location.
Here’s how to use a VPN to mask your location:
Test for IP leaks
You should search for IP leaks to ensure that your VPN is working properly. Visiting IP leak monitoring websites is the simplest way to do so: https://browserleaks.com/ip or www.ipleak.net
These will inform you whether or not your actual IPv4, IPv6, and DNS addresses are shown. It will also display the effects of the WebRTC leak. If a WebRTC leak is discovered, you must use a VPN browser extension to disable the setting. The best VPNs provide those extensions as part of your monthly fee.
If all of these checks fail, your VPN is leaking your true position. You should strongly consider switching service providers as soon as possible. NordVPN or ExpressVPN is a market pioneer in terms of not leaking IP addresses.
Cut Off Tracking Cookies
A VPN will not protect you from tracking cookies on its own. However, some providers provide tools for blocking malicious websites and monitoring by advertisers. They do offer protection against third-party cookies.
Using an incognito window is another excellent suggestion. It’s a privacy window that, when closed, deletes all cookies. It is available in any browser and begins your browsing session from scratch each time:
You can use the following keyboard shortcuts to open Private Incognito Window in any browser:
- CTRL/Command + Shift + N in Chrome
- CTRL/Command + Shift + P in Firefox
- Command + Shift + N for Safari
Disable geolocation on your browser
You must customize your browser location permissions to mask your location while using a VPN. Even when linked to a VPN, VPN geolocation is the most popular way to expose your coordinates. This can be done in any browser.
Disable browser geolocation API On Chrome:
- Go to Menu > Preferences.
- Then go to Site Settings > Privacy and Security. the location
- Enable the “Ask Before Accessing” feature.
Disable browser geolocation API On Safari:
- Select Preferences > Privacy from the drop-down menu.
- Tracking your website
- Check the boxes next to “Ask websites not to track me” and “Prevent cross-site monitoring.”
Disable browser geolocation API On Firefox:
- go to:
- Select Privacy And Security from the menu.
- After that, go to Permissions > Location.
- Check the box next to “Block new requests” or handle permissions.
Conclusion
When using a VPN, your location will not always be concealed. This can occur as a result of your VPN leaking your real IP address. One of the explanations may be the use of a browser geolocation API and cookies.
Most of the time, using a VPN and disabling your browser’s GPS settings is enough to mask your location. Here are some of the best VPNs for this:
